Information is power. Share with them this site, rsdhope.org, and any other links and literatue you can find. I had a select few that were close to me as well who didnt know anything about it so there for "it didnt exist" type of deal. Once I shared the information they understood more and are no longer the "disbelievers" they once were.

Best of luck to you!

I hope things are going better for you and you are learning more about RSD to help yourself with it. We find on here the more we learn about the RSD the more we can find the right Drs., learn about new meds, and learn what comes with RSD that we have to help ourselves with.

As far as it being in our head, I believe we have all heard that at one time or another. I had a friend on the TOS forum and an Physical Therapist that helped me figure out what I was dealing with. It took me 3 years to get diagnosed with TOS and more for the RSD.

I have the best PCP and had the best PA I could have ask for but they had only had one case of TOS and RSD in their 20+ years each in medicine so it was a job to diagnose. My PCP finally asked me to get me a computer and help diagnose me. That was only after he had sent me out to about 40 Drs.

After my diagnoses then my TOS surgeon helped me to find the best Anesteologist and Hand Surgeon for my hand problems. This first hand surgeon I had who has now retired was one of the smartest Drs. I had ever seen. He was able to diagnose everything that was going on with me and it is too much to mention. He wrote a 3 page letter to my PCP telling him and making it pretty clear that it had to be delt with and how.

What I am trying to say, is that there are other Drs. out there that actually know more about RSD then PM Drs. I have not met a PM Dr. in our area worth his weight in salt but now I do believe there is one that was an Anesteologist that I am hearing nothing but good about so they are out there.

I honestly believe that PM Drs. deal with so many areas of pain that they treat them all the same. Wheather it's back problems, RSD, TOS, Arthritis, Rheumotoid Arthritis, MS, you name it. I think therefore they put us in the same catagory as the people with these other problems. To me RSD is something that the pain is worse then what comes with any other medical problem. There is even a scale out there that shows it. Someone might be able to bring that up for you.

I don't know how many times I have told my PCP that he doesn't get the pain that comes with RSD. Now the way he talks to me, I believe he does. He's helped me more then any PM Dr. could.

I guess what I am trying to say, if the PM Dr. don't or can't help you, look for other types of Drs. such as Anesteolgist that do blocks and some Rheumotolgist. I have not found a good Neurolgist but I have seen others on here say they have been helped by them.

Don't put your eggs in one basket. Don't give up on finding the help you need and don't let what some of the Drs. tell you go to your heart. It makes the stress worse and that makes the pain worse.

Good luck in finding that right help.

Ada